Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Phone Scam in #SLO County

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office is once again warning about a
phone scam that is being reported in the area. The Sheriff's Office and
the Arroyo Grande Police Department have received a number of reports
from people who have received a phone call that appears to be coming
directly from the Sheriff's Office. The caller identifies themselves as a
member of the Sheriff's Office and warns the resident about a
delinquent fine they must pay for missing a court date for a traffic
violation or for missing jury duty. The caller proceeds to tell the
resident there is an active warrant out for their arrest. The caller
requests the resident put money on a green dot card/prepaid debit card
to "show the court" they have the necessary funds in order to suspend
the warrant. So far, there have been no reports of any monetary loss.
The Sheriff's Office reported this same type of activity taking place
back in February. The Sheriff's Office reminds you that it is not our
practice to contact residents by phone regarding these matters. We also
caution you to never give out personal or financial information over the
phone. Anyone who receives a call like this should report it to their
local law enforcement agency.